Road Trip Fuel Stop Calculator
Plan the refuel stops for a long drive. Enter your trip distance, tank size and fuel economy, and a reserve you want to keep, and see how many fuel stops you'll need and how much fuel the trip will use.
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How to use this calculator
- Enter the total trip distance in km and your fuel tank capacity in litres.
- Enter your fuel economy in L/100km (use the fuel consumption calculator if you're not sure).
- Optionally adjust the reserve percentage (default 15%) so you never run the tank dry, then read off the safe range, number of stops and total fuel.
How it works
Safe range per tank = tank / economy × 100 × (1 − reserve/100). Fuel stops needed = ceil(trip distance / safe range) − 1, which is zero when the trip fits in one tank. Total fuel = trip distance / 100 × economy. With an 80 L tank at 10 L/100km and a 15% reserve, the safe range is 80 / 10 × 100 × 0.85 = 680 km, so a 1000 km trip needs ceil(1000/680) − 1 = 1 stop and 100 L of fuel.
Worked example
Worked example. For a 1000 km trip with an 80 L tank, 10 L/100km economy and a 15% reserve: safe range = 680 km, fuel stops = ceil(1000 / 680) − 1 = 1, and total fuel = 1000 / 100 × 10 = 100 L.
Common mistakes
- Using the theoretical full-tank range with no reserve — always keep a buffer, especially where fuel stops are far apart.
- Assuming fuel is available exactly where your range runs out — on remote routes, plan around actual open roadhouses and carry extra fuel.
- Using your best-case economy — towing, load, air-conditioning and headwinds all cut range, so use a realistic (or slightly pessimistic) figure.
Frequently asked questions
Why subtract one from the number of tanks?
You start the trip with a full tank, so the first tankful is free — you only stop to refuel for the remaining distance. If the whole trip fits within one safe range, the result is zero stops.
What reserve should I use?
15% is a sensible default for sealed highways with regular fuel. For remote or outback driving, use a larger reserve and carry extra fuel in approved jerry cans, since the gap between roadhouses can exceed a single tank.
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